The Watching Hour: Over the Edge
Sponsored by Biennial of the Americas

USA, 1979, 95 Minute Running Time
Genre/Subjects: Crime, Drama

Screens in The Watching Hour Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 3rdNew Granada: a typically neat and neighbourly new town for middle class families, offering all mod cons. Except, that is, for the kids, left to find the usual entertainment of drugs, drink and sex in a run-down prefab 'rec'. When this last haven is threatened with demolition, adolescent high spirits and bad behavior result in nihilist rage and rebellion. Jonathan Kaplan's terrific movie - nervously held back from distribution here for five years - is one of the best movies to date about the generation gap. Although the parents and teachers are never reduced to uncaring stereotypes, their blind, status-oriented decisions and actions provide adequate fuel for the justly frustrated kids, who must be the most credible bunch of youngsters to make it onto celluloid.